Norwich football fans say supporters must be consulted over possible TV rule changes
The '3pm blackout' has been a part of English football since the 1960s, but now its future hangs in the balance
Norwich football fans tell us that match-going supporters must be consulted on any future changes to the '3pm blackout rules', before they're given the green-light.
There's speculation that senior figures in the English game are going to ditch a decades old television rule in 2028, which bans fixtures being shown live at 3pm on a Saturday.
They were put in place in the 1960s and are designed to encourage fans to pop down and watch their local team, instead of staying at home to see the two best teams in the country play for three points - from their living room.
"I don't think it's a healthy thing... but I can see the economic thinking behind it"
Lorraine Taylor has supported the Canaries for nearly half a century: "The argument that people across the world can watch a game at 3pm, while those in England can't is irrelevant.
"They wouldn't be going to game in England in the first-place and they don't affect crowd numbers.
"I think this will be very detrimental to English football."
Chris Newby's also a Canaries fan, but he's somewhat more open to the plans: "We all know that there's a massive different between the TV revenue given out to Premier League and the English Football League.
"If done correctly, this could be a good way of bridging that gap and ensuring clubs in the entirety of the English football pyramid get more funding."
Rob Sainty is the chair of Norwich's official supporters group: "Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that you can attract far more people if you engage a TV audience instead of building a bigger stadium.
"I don't think it's a healthy thing or something that will benefit the wider game, but I can see the economic thinking behind it."
"The FSA supports retaining the blackout for the health of the entire game"
Tom Greatrex, the chair of the Football Supporters' Association, issued a statement calling on the game's authorities to properly assess the impact of scrapping the blackout.
"It should come as no surprise that the erosion of a full 3pm fixture list is putting the TV blackout under question," Greatrex said.
"The FSA supports retaining the blackout for the health of the entire game, putting that above the whims of broadcasters."
"Any proposed changes need to properly assess those impacts too"
EFL chair Rick Parry told PA in 2021 - prior to his competition's most recent deal with Sky Sports being agreed - that he did not rule out scrapping the blackout in the next deal, although ultimately it was retained.
The EFL's current deal includes more than 1,000 matches a season being shown live, with more games moving to the 12.30pm Saturday slot.
All games except Saturday 3pm kick-offs will be screened live in the new Premier League deal which starts next season.
Greatrex warned English football risked ending up like Portugal, where crowds have fallen with kick-offs spread across weekends and two games rarely starting at the same time.
He added: "As so often seems to be the case, the impact on lower league and non league clubs is barely considered; the impact on match-going supporters being forced to drive as kick-off changes mean no public transport options is ignored, while claims about sustainability are bandied about by leagues and sponsors.
"Perhaps most significantly the full fixture list becoming a thing of the past, other than the final day, reduces the sporting spectacle, increases pressure on policing resources and risks the Portugalisation of our competitions.
"Any proposed changes need to properly assess those impacts too - blithely stating a desire to protect the pyramid is not enough. Actions - and inaction - speak louder than PR adviser crafted words."
The Times reports that the EFL's analysis has shown there to be no significant impact on attendances caused by the changes made to scheduling under its new Sky deal.
Associations are allowed to impose the broadcast block between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays under UEFA Article 48, which can only be applied where 50 per cent of Premier League and Championship matches on a given weekend are scheduled for Saturday 3pm.